Jon Favreau Explains How THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Reflects His STAR WARS Partnership With Dave Filoni

The creative partnership between Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni has shaped a huge chunk of modern Star Wars, and Favreau says The Mandalorian and Grogu is a pretty good representation of how the two filmmakers work together.

Favreau compared their collaboration to musicians playing off each other, with each person influencing how the other approaches the material.

"I think the show and the film is a reflection of our partnership," Favreau told Filoni on the official The Mandalorian and Grogu podcast. "Like two musicians who play together. It changes the way we play, I think. And it makes me feel very comfortable when I get to tell stories with you."

It’s a perfect comparison considering how much Favreau and Filoni have collaborated since The Mandalorian first launched. Their work together has expanded Din Djarin and Grogu’s corner of the galaxy while connecting it with characters and ideas from other parts of the franchise.

Filoni explained that even when they’re working separately, they’re constantly bringing material back to each other for another perspective.

"We come together and we do some things a little separately, then I bring you things to watch, which is always super helpful," he said.

"Because that's the other thing, too, especially if we're shooting separately at times, we see what the other shot, you get those fresh eyes to look at something. And you are, in a lot of ways, the ultimate audience member. Because if you don't understand it, you'll tell me."

That back-and-forth carried directly into The Mandalorian and Grogu. Filoni, who serves as co-president of Lucasfilm, directed the movie’s puppet unit after previously directing multiple episodes of The Mandalorian.

Their comments offer a fun look at why their creative relationship has lasted. They can tackle different pieces of a project independently, then come back together and challenge each other on whether the story actually works.

Filoni’s next Star Wars project is Ahsoka Season 2, which arrives January 20. The Mandalorian and Grogu and its official podcast are currently streaming on Disney+.

After years of building this corner of the Star Wars universe together, Favreau and Filoni clearly have a creative rhythm that works for them.